O C T O B E R 2 0 1 7
option, but then decided it was easier
to use an integrated model.) The
fourth option was an approach that
was especially useful for our spine sur-
geons, who turned out to be the tough-
est nuts to crack, and for good reason.
The profile of the electrosurgical
pencil spine surgeons use is a little
larger than normal pencils, so they
really can lose visibility with the
wrong instrument. Naturally, I wasn't
going to force them to use a smoke-
evacuation device that would decrease
their view of the surgical field, so I
told the techs in my spine rooms to
simply clip smoke evacuation tubing
as close as possible to the edge of the
incision. They didn't ask the surgeons,
and didn't tell them they'd done it;
they just did it. That way, we achieved
compliance without bothering, or get-
ting pushback from, the surgeons.
Incidentally, if you've had surgeons
complain about the noise caused by
smoke evacuation systems, rest
assured that manufacturers have made
tremendous improvements on that
front. The newer models are so quiet,
you might not hear them at all.
BUFFALO FILTER
